It's almost four hours left for those dreadful but hopeful bells to ring, indicating us that it's midnight, the beginning of a brand new 12-month period for everybody to enjoy. It is only fair to dedicate a part of this few hours to look back at what we lived during the year. And what a year it has been for me. Not much has changed: i still have my family alive and well and my work is as stressful as always, but I had a huge personal awakening, partly thanks to my travelings overseas. My experiences in London, Paris and Barcelona with my bestie Luchicha gave me a lot to think about my future plans, about my desire to try new things in a new environment. Not that I hate being here, but the situation that we're all in is not exactly very inspiring, to be bluntly honest. The whole world is out there, and I know that is waiting for me. Somehow, someday, I will be able to respond to the world's wishes. My heart also had a quite turbulent year, it got elevated to the highest highs and dropped into the most depressing lows, but all in all, I've gone through. My determination and persevarence, those are the things that keep me standing and going. All is not lost, and I'm quite content about that. After all, i'm still young and there's a lot of living to do.
Corniness aside, I've had a fantastic 2010, and to that I have to thank every living and animated being that had surrounded me all year long. My wishes for 2011? Being alive I guess, travel some more, fall in love again, who knows? Still, i'm looking forward for all of it. Bring it on!
That being said, I hope you all have a great new year and may all your wishes come true. See you all soon! xo
(the picture may or may not have anything to do with new year's celebration, but it ranks as one of the best i took during the year, so it stays. damn it)
Art is all around us. We see it everywhere but mostly, in recent years. we see it in the streets, accesible for the whole world to appreciate. I've noticed street art, but never went deep into it, never quite cared for it, until today that is.
I just came back from an art gallery with two good friends, Luchicha and Juanduh. After getting lost in an uncertain area of the city, we finally got to that art gallery for a very special occasion, a screening of Banksy's "Exit Through the Gift Shop" film. I'm seriously lost for words about this one. It's one hell of a documentary and it has many layers to it, since it's not all about street art and its main figures (Space Invaders, Shepard Fairey and Banksy himself) but also about a man that started from scratch and became bigger than his mentors, Thierry Guetta aka Mr. Brainwash. It took me minutes (90 to be exact) to realize that his work is indeed popular and quite iconic, after all Madonna commanded him to do the cover for the "Celebration" CD.
I really loved this documentary and also the song that goes along with it, just brilliant I say. It made my whole pre-xmas week. By the way, if I don't catch you all by then, merry xmas and a happy new year to all :)
Sweden is far from being underestimated when it comes to music. After all, it's the birthplace to one of the greatest acts in history (you don't want me to tell you the 4-letter name of that act). It is also the place for an ongoing wave of young talents, destined to get out of the freezy scandinavian weather and into the global scope of pop and rock.
Take notice on Indie outfit Those Dancing Days. Formed in 2005, this five-piece group of keaboardist Lisa, guitarrist Rebecka, basist Mimmi, drummer Cissi and superb vocalist Linnea has been turning heads thanks to their alternative sound and cute but energetic pressence on stage. They have one EP as well as a full lenght album on Whichita Recordings ("In Our Space Hero Suits") and next March will be the release of their second, still untitled. For this occasion, by a simple glimpse of new single "Fuckarias", they are slowly walking away from their sweet Twee tunes, replacing them with a harder, richer feeling, still maintaning loyal to rock details.
It's a coming-of-age period for these swedish birds, and it might be just the beginning.
Growing up on radio and cassettes, it's far to obvious to deny my love for the music of the 80's. Whether it was good or bad, awesome or terrible, there's something about the music of that era that moves me like no other. It makes me sing, it makes me dance, it takes me back to places I thought I tucked inside my brain.
One of my first memories of 80s music is Shep Pettibone, producer and a very good friend of a one Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone. Everything he touches screams the 1980's and that's not exactly a bad thing. Any production in which he was involved is an instant favorite for me and one of his most remarkable works, not to mention a total radio classic, is his 1987 remix of New Order's "Bizarre Love Triangle"
I don't care for any other remixes, I don't even care about Frente's cover (although it's quite sweet), the original Shep Pettibone remix is a must for the soundtrack of my life, and it's also my introduction to New Order, followed by the equally great "True Faith". It's industrial, edgy, disturbing, close to being dark and on top of it all, extremely dancey, enough to bust a move at every time this one is played. The video, directed by Robert Longo, is as intriguing as the song itself, just iconic and visually imponent.
Do I really have to go on much further than this? This is a classic, period. End of post.
Over the last month, I owe all of my discoveries of new and not so new music to a pale little person from my hometown of Maracaibo, whose knowledge and open mind about personal stuff is amazing me by the minute. It is someone that's becoming to be very special to me.
Enough sappyness...
One of his best kept secrets, which i'm going to reveal just this once (sorry dear) is Mazzy Star, a dream pop outfit from Santa Monica, California, made up mainly by guitarrist David Roback and vocalist Hope Sandoval. My friend and I played a little game of making mixtapes for each other, showcasing one of our favourite artists. I chose the Supremes and went all intense by making an almost 70-track mixtape. Then this friend sent to me some songs of Mazzy Star and it was instant love. These are songs that aren't meant to be hard and sweaty, these are profound songs of longing, acceptance and adoration, evoking nostalgia, due to the heartfelt voice of Hope and the overall arrangements.
Since next weekend i'll be on a trip to Maracaibo, i'll be sure to make Mazzy Star a part of the soundtrack to it. Enjoy this one as well.
Last night I had the pleasure to enjoy a documentary on Patti Smith called "Dream of Life". God bless Patti Smith, really. I've written her off for so many years, mainly because she didn't sound like all my favorite artists. For that, I'm ashamed. But since life makes so many twists and turns, I was able to make up for all the lost time of not listening to her impressive work.
Recently I got a hold of most of her well known records (Horses, Radio Ethiopia, Easter and Wave) and now I can honestly say that I couldn't go through the day without listening to at least one song from Patti. She's rebellious, reflective, loving, revolutionary and artistic all at the same time. All of those facets are reflected on "Dream of Life", one doc I truly recommend. Apart from her runarounds with famous and fashionable people, she's a force to be reckon with, as far as I'm concerned.
"Life is an adventure of our own design, intercepted by fate and a series of lucky and unlucky accidents"
I have been a fan of Roxy Music from not too long ago. Always acknowledged them but never really took them seriously until I found the "Best of Roxy Music" compilation and then I was hooked and got me their entire discography. They have a song for any situation: whether I feel like trashing the house, or feeling glamourous and sexy or feeling reflective about my life and actions, Roxy has been there.
They are currently in the works for a brand new tour next year, one which me and a zillion people are dying to attend and experience. In the meantime, we'll have to sit back, wait and enjoy Bryan Ferry's thirteen solo album, "Olympia", which hit stores just recently.
If there was ever an ingredient for Roxy's slick sound, is Ferry. He was born slick, that's why he ended up with supermodel Jerry Hall in the late 70s before Mick Jagger won her over. He's an elegant man in every way and it shows on every song he makes, and the 10-set "Olympia" is no exception. His voice sounds current and gets even more improvement with the help of the record's numerous contributors: Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, Flea, Groove Armada, Scissor Sisters, Nile Rodgers, David Gilmour and his old Roxy bandmates. And to top it off, Kate Moss graces the cover of the CD, talking about an all star colaboration.
This is a total must listen, if you are long running Roxy Music fans, or just curious ears who want to know what cool sounds like.
Nick Weiss and Logan Takahashi seem to be two young americans who are just about to graduate and have a profound love for music. In reality, however, these are geniuses whose dark imagination travels them to the worlds of R&B, hip-hop, club music and even strange psychedelic nostalgia. Their sound is truly an unique trance-like experience where the body and the mind are forced to react to such explosion: they can be as tender or reflective as they want to be, but they can also turn the record upside down and create house bangers that will most likely to be the soundtrack to young girls (and boys) fantasies everywhere in the upcoming year.
Many people I know tend to recognize Blondie from their most popular work, from 1978 onwards ("Heart Of Glass", "Call Me", "The Tide is High" and 1999's "Maria"). That's ok, but still a bit unfortunate 'cause deep in its core, Blondie was an underground punk rock band with modern and tropical influences. Four male musicians, masters at their work, fronted by one hot blonde (with really dark roots), whose voice evocated sassyness, anarchy, sensuality and even vulnerability.
All the greatness of Blondie's catalogue should be traced from their 1976 selftitled debut on Private Stock Records. It's quick and fast (only 33 minutes long), with some intervals of slow jazzy tropicalia ("Man Overboard") and love magic ("In the Flesh"). Nevermind the lyrics, they are infused with remaniscent of the past, longings, romantic challenges and just pure crazyness: words from songs like "Kung Fu-Girls", "X-Offender" or "The Attack of the Giant Ants" would make a great example on how mental but how genius Debbie Harry & co could be.
With such fun, it would be a no-brainer to place this album into my list of favorites, just close to "Parallel Lines" or "Eat to the Beat" but not far away from "Autoamerican" please.
Before my love for cassettes, CD's and mp3's, there is my love for vinil. There's something special about them, about the way the needle is set in the first track, the hiss and dust creating a unique sound. We don't expect high quality, we expect the essence, the rawness, the elaborated design of the sleeve, that's why vinils have a strong, special place in my music heart.
One of my favorites albums these days is Mark Ronson & The Buisness INTL's "Record Collection", and Tashen's "Extraordinary Records" is a must in my night table. Taking that into consideration, I've taking the chance of digging out some dirt and look out for my own record collection, one that's filled with spiderwebs but also holds a cute little spot in my closet. It's been curated by myself ever since I moved to Caracas, and has been nutered thanks to my constant trips to a urine-smelling bridge with old books for sale and of course, old records.
One of my proudest achievements would be discovering most of Donna Summer's original releases. I hardly knew her before that, I guess only the basics, but never the album-only songs, nor the layout of the gatefold designs. One fine day, I decided to buy em all, it costed me like 200 Bs. each, as cheap as it was possible, I didn't care, I had to have them. So far, they are my favorites among the 120+ discs in my collection
Some downsides to my rack? It might be the "poor" state of some of the LP's like Diana Ross & The Supremes' "Love Child". I had to buy it coz I love the Supremes, but this one is pretty shitty. The sleeve is deteriorated and so is the vinil itself, it wouldn't be possible to hear it without skipping and hissing. Other downsilde would be me preffering a Milli Vanilli album over some cool looking ones from Michael Jackson or other 12 inchers. God, really, Milli Vanilli? I mean, I do think they made good songs, but they are not worth passing by some MJ goods.
Anyhoo, I hope you've enjoyed this post, I sure will try to update regularly, since apologies are few far in between. Till then... x
Long before she was known for singing about mistakes after a night of a few drinks, acting alongside Schwarzenegger, Robin Williams and Sean Penn and appearing on CNN and Fox News dissing Chavez and Castro, Maria Conchita Alonso was famous for being at least three things: beauty queen, drama queen and...disco queen.
After she won Miss Teen Venezuela in 1975 and established herself as an actress in soap operas, Alonso thought the next obvious step was to indulge into a foray in music, with the help of producer and singer Rudy La Scala. The result was a nickname (A'mbar) and an album called "Love Maniac", released in 1979 under a highly effective intrigue campaign.
Her record company Polydor and several music experts feared that songs written and sung in English would dangered her reputation and therefore, there wouldn't be an audience that could take her seriously as a singer. Keeping that in mind, Polydor decided to release the track without her face in the sleeve. The result of that marketing stategy was a chart-topping hit for Maria Conchita in September 1979.
She followed "Love Maniac" with another A'mbar album called "The Witch" but was rather unsuccessful and decided to concentrate on her acting career in Hollywood, as well as some other albums throughout the 80s and 90s.
It's obvious which song is candidate for "The Jam of '10", and trust me, it isn't "We No Speak Americano" (although is a close runnerup). It's actually "Barbra Streisand" by Duck Sauce. The first time I heard it I was so glad that Armand Van Helden and A-Trak were able enough to mix the electronic pulsating beats of today with what seems to be a nursery island chant that's so catchy and fresh in 2010 as it was when it was first created...almost 30 years ago.
Now who were responsible for this? None other than Boney M., a german Disco group put together by producer Frank Farian, who a decade later layed his midas touch on a certain duo of black male models. For a short period of time (1976-80) they were one of the most successful bands in Western Europe, thanks to their other-worldly costumes, their stage shows and their poppy tunes, one of which "Gotta Go Home" is sampled by the producers of our days to create a dance anthem. Long live Boney M.
Did i tell you guys already that disco will never ever ever die? Well if i have, than this is another testament of it. The greatest disco band of all time, CHIC, is coming alive once more with the release of a luxe box set called "Nile Rodgers Presents The CHIC Organization Vol. 1: Savoir Faire". This long waited release will get its due on October 18 and will showcase the classic era of Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards' pristine productions, not only for their own band but for other performers such as Diana Ross, Debbie Harry, Sister Sledge, Sheila B. Devotionand more. The 4CD set will also include some unreleased tracks by funky keyboard player Fonzi Thornton as well as some awesome remixes by the king himself, Dimitri From Paris (he already put out a teaser or his rework on Norma Jean's "Saturday", which is pretty EPIC for a 2 minute clip. I would not imagine the rest of it).
If you don't have any idea who CHIC is, it's never too late to find out (actually, their biggest hit, "Le Freak" has been on countless films such as Shrek 2, and the baseline for "Good Times" has been influential enough to have Queen boogie and to land the foundations for today's hip hop tracks).
Rarely used, Myspace always comes with the best surprises, here's one I found out on my inbox. Remember the glam discofied sounds of Iceland's Max Skiba? Well one of his collectives, the KDMS, are releasing a brand new single with a video starring a space lady we all know and love.
Here it comes: The new slowdisco bomb of Kathy Diamond and Max Skiba aka THE KDMS. It’s their second 12inch release on Gomma, but already the buzz is big. Their last Gomma -single “Never Stop Believing” (including the infamous house remix by New York DJ legend NICKY SIANO) was huge with DJs from Pilooski to Holy Ghost, Sweeney to Aeroplane. And it is quite sure that the new one will get no less attention. “High Wire” can easily be described as a little masterpiece. Just listen to it one time and it will stay in your head. Remixes come up by Russian disco heros D – PULSE, Gomma’s own MUSTANG and KOOL DJ DUST (with releases on Permanent Vacation and Tronik Youth’s label under his belt). This release of the London Disco Queen Diamond and the Polish house wunderkind Skiba will be followed by 2 other singles the two recorded separately: Kathy has just released her single with Toby Tobias on Radioslave’s label REKIDS and another record with Nick Chacona on Mood. And Max Skiba (whose last single was featured on MYLO’s Mixmag CD) comes with a single on UNDER THE SHADE. We can be sure: 2011 will be big for these two disco youngsters.
It's thursday and almost forgot about yesterday, when a legendary cult bad bad really bad movie, one of my all time favorites, turned 30. Whew! the time passed so fast we hardly noticed. I'm surprised that some people actually don't know about the existence of "Xanadu" or the fact that Olivia Newton-John (fantastic pop star and NOT JUST the girl who played "Sandy" on "Grease") starred in it. Others are also quite oblivious about the plot which was pure disco nonsense: the core of the flick is the friendship between Sonny Malone, a record sleve designer, and Danny McGuire (played by Gene Kelly, in his last movie before his death ten years later), an ex jazz musician from the 1930s. Both men are enchanted by the same woman: a muse named Kira, one of Zeus' golden daughters sent to Earth in a flash of neon lights and roller skates. Her lady power inspire Sonny and Danny to transform an old theatre (the Pan-Pacific Auditorium) into a other-worldly place called...what else...Xanadu!
The critics, or should I call them the cynics, tend to focus on the really bad acting instead of what's so beautiful about the film: the choreography, the editing, the animation (at one point, Sonny and Kira suddenly are trapped in a Disney-like fantasy) and of course, the music, provided by Livvy, brit legend Cliff Richard, rock group The Tubes on a jazz-new wave hybrid called "Dancin'" and the Electric Light Orchestra, who puts the cherry on the milkshake on the classic title track, the one that goes on forever. The story and its legacy is still going strong thanks to the gay comunity taking it to heart and a Broadway adaptation that was quite popular in 2007-08.
I've always had a thing for that strange smokey persona that is the enigmatic Gary Numan. The pale face, black eyeliner, the suits, it's an imagery that evoques artistic imposition, theatricality and an alternative point of view. Overall, it was a very distintive style that, blended with his haunting electrobeats, influenced a world of musicians, from The Killers, to Nine Inch Nails to GaGa (even if she doesn't try to admit it).
Although he's most known for his 79 hit song "Cars", there's so much more to this man: his tours and albums are one of a kind and quite diverse (his sound is eminently electronic but he also flirted with synthpop and jazz, while his concerts could go from a rave to a down right industrial freak show), he married the president of his fan club and he's a certified pilot. Go figure!
My original intention was to leave you guys alone for the weekend and come back on later days but i've broken my one day silence to give you Bim, the birthchild of Rebecca Rosier and Tim Davis. This London-based outfit is getting the notorieity it deserves thanks to their "blend of harmonies, piano duets and electro beats", very much in the style of Imogen Heap, the Cardigans or even Abba.
The indie duo is currently on tour in the UK promoting their debut album "Scatterheart", a record filled with upbeat songs and sad but beautiful tearjerkers. Worthy of hearing indeed.
Finally after a long but deserving wait, I had the pleasure of watching the new biopic based on the life and times of France's ultimate bad boy, Serge Gainsbourg. For curious and fans alike, "Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque)" is a comprehensive look at this provocateur, from his early years as an aspiring and hugely talented painter to the appreciation of his composing skills, not to mention his talent of seducing some of the most beautiful women of his country and beyond. (Even Whitney Houston falled for his charms...sortof).
The director Joann Sfar lays special emphasis on Serge's alter ego, the defiant, mischievous poet Gainsbarre, a troubled personality that would haunt him through his relationships, his career and his deadly vices. As far as the cast is concerned, Eric Elmosnino and the late Lucy Gordon are quite convincing as Serge and Jane Birkin, his muse during his golden era. Elmosino, especially, is Gainsbourg reborn, with all and his sometimes unwashed appearence. Noteworthy is model Leititia Casta, who puts all the stops as the legendary Brigitte Bardot (watch for "Comic Strip" and the birth of the classic "Je T'aime...Mon Non Plus".
Overall, it's not the typical rock/pop movie. It elevates itself into a form of art, just like Gainsbourg himself.
Never been a fan of "Star Wars", "Star Trek", "2001: A Space Odyssey" or any galaxy flick but always been a huge fan of the Carpenters, ever since I was 8. People who say they are not relevent or "hip" are surely mistaken: they are as hip as Abba, the Beatles or any legendary band on planet earth. The 90s tribute album "If I Were a Carpenter" is a huge testimony of current/alternative acts like Sonic Youth, the Cranberries and Babes in Toyland acknowledging the value of Richard Carpenter's pristine production and, of course, the perfect tone of the beloved and never forgotten miss Karen Carpenter. Her voice is one of the 20th century's greatest gifts and it evoques countless feelings: happiness, sadness (most of the time), love and even...a plea for humans and outerspace creatures to communicate? Yes!
It all came about 1977: their soft-pop sound, which brought them international superstardom, was losing stride. At the same time, their personal life wasn't exactly sunny as their early catalogue either: Richard battled with prescription drugs and Karen was showing signs of the disease that would lead her to her demise six years later: anorexia nervosa. Maybe in his own druggy stupor, Richard became mesmorized by the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and a California unknown band named Klaatu (hyped by rock press and confused by record buyers as being the Beatles reunited with a different name). One of their songs on their debut album, the opener, was a seven minute-fourteen seconds opus called "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft". Released as a single in early 77, it was almost left unnoticed, reaching number 62 in Billboard.
As determined as he was, Richard took upon the challenge of reproducing the prog track and making it a bonafide Carpenters classic. Over 160 musicians and singers participated in the recording and quickly secured its spot as the final song in their eight LP "Passage". Their audience, always well adjusted to their ballads and poppy tunes, was left buggled by "Calling Occupants..." and recieved a modest position on the charts, as number 32. At least the UK got the message and was an even greater hit, at number 10. It was one of their biggest songs and always sends shivers down my spine, particulary with a line that puts the cherry to a beautiful melody:
"You close your eyes, you concentrate, together that's the way/to send the message we declare World Contact Day"
It's easier to dissmiss people's fascination with robots or any metal-made thing in a human-like shape, but there's some beauty into the idea. Ever since creative folks in the 30s had pictured us as robotic beings in a future not far away, we've been linked with them as we've been linked to monkeys in the evolution. They could be good or bad, helpful or malicious, walk in a strange way or even talk in beeps and pieces, just like us. It's only natural that music writers, non mechanic ones, are still insisting after all these years of bringing space, earth and laboratory together, so that any bounderies existing between humans and robots cese and desist. Here are a few selections that remind us that.
It's sad but i have to be an honest person about it: i've sacrificed most of my social life, whatever that was. I rarely go out now, but in the end, i've been feeling pretty good about it. It's always nice to settle down you know? And i'm not doing it in the style of depressed people. Instead, i take the time to crash my bed and watch some good ol' fashioned movies, the ones that regular folks wouldn't dare to take a peek. The ones I like. This week was interesting, as I had the pleasure to witness three different but equally awesome films:
Candy (1968): I had some reference to this movie by a Beatles book i have regarding their "movie" career (Ringo Starr plays a short but memorable role as "Enmanuel", a shy but really horny mexican gardner). This is one trippy, weird, almost disturbing picture. It follows the story of Candy Christian (former swedish beauty queen Ewa Aulin), a naive and erotic creature who wonders through life trying to find some meaning to it, while at the same time, running away from any living man who wants to have sex wih her. Who wouldn't? She's extrordinarily beautiful, pinky dresses and lovely voice combined, a valueble possesion for the men in this flick (Marlon Brando, John Huston, Richard Burton, Sugar Ray Robinson, Walter Mathau, to name a few). The soundtrack sounds like any other 60s hippie movie, but the story is something else. Highly recommended.
Blowup (1966): I don't think anyone or anything had prepared me for Michelangelo Antonioni's most known movie. I've only seen the epic posters and heard about Jane Birkin (yes, Gainsbourg's muse) appearing as one of the models, but the entire thing was a big WTF to me. But a good one (it was nominated for Academy Awards, including Best director). I guess being based on a short tale by Julio Cortazar had to do with it, he was a good WTF alltogether in terms of his writing. For fans of fashion, models, photography, 60s mods and swinging London, this must be a fave: it details a strange obsession of a prolific young photographer to discover a mystery murder that took place on a vast park, inmortalized in a series of pics that he took of a gorgeous and sexy Vanessa Redgrave. The big fail relies on the fact that he never truly discovered anything about it and the end of the film sees him watching a silent tennis match played by mimes, and in the midst of that, some wonderful jazz by Herbie Hancock and mod rock by the Yardbirds. It delivers what it is sent out to be: you know, a big good WTF!
I Think We're Alone Now (2008): Tiffany. Oh Tiffany...the good old days of my cousins record player, where the good, the bad and the terribly ugly of pop took place. It was a good learning experience for me, trying to find some good tunes out of that, but one I really loved was Tiff's 1987 self titled debut. It was the era of mall concerts and kids screaming to this little lady's hit, a cover of Tommy James and the Shondells' "I Think We're Alone now". The balance between Madonna-like dance grooves and sweet teen angst ballads made her a pop star and a target for any messedup individuals. That's where Jeffrey Deane and Kelly McCormick come in, middleaged persons who do NOT have a healthy crush on what was once a teenager but now is a grown woman. Both are clearly mental: one has already a history of stalkerish incidents and was even given a restraining order against him by Tiff herself in 1989, as her fame was slowly fading. The other is an intersexed "girl" who has pictures of her adoration ALL OVER her apartment, believing she's her best friend and were meant to be together. This one hour guerrilla-like documentary does not try to hide how far away these people are from reality, but gives us an inside look on how they cope with their object of desire. Scary.
Oh the quiet life of a youngster. Playing with action toys, Barbies, G.I. Joe's and cars. Running around like they cared less, destroying everything in sight. Watching cool cartoon shows and getting a bad F mark on school. In every kid's mind is the desire and enjoyment of being just a kid and not dealing with the trials and tribulations of adults. They'd rather live on the NOW, dreaming of being teachers and doctors, than handling careers of their own, doing exactly what grownups do. Don't really know much if singing (and particularly, singing disco) was the first thing on the minds of Stacy Lattisaw and Freddie James, but they sure stepped out of anonymity by making their fellow kiddies, and people in general, moving their feets off to their non-threatening boogie oogie oogie odes about puppy love, lights and, of course, dancing. Kudos to them, and kudos to you if you want to join in!
Two of them are wild songstresses from the 80s. Two are wild songstresses from the 00's. One was a aspiring actress who got her start at both film and music in a cult and obscure movie. One was discovered by Malcolm Mclaren to promote his and Vivienne Westwood's clothing, causing controversy posing naked for an album cover at the tender age of 15. One is a DJ, producer and singer, lover of electro, deep house, techno and dubtronica, who hosted music shows on polish radio and actually runs her own collective and record label. And One is an emerging young new talent, recent from her Glastonbury gig, looking to find her way into the ever evolving world of pop. All of them are from Europe, all of them women and proud of it. Clockwise, it's Hazel O' Connor, Annabella Lwin from Bow Wow Wow, Novika and Ruby Goe. Enjoy!.
I've never considered myself as a trendsetter of any sort but I would take this opportunity to start a trend, at least on this blog. This is the point where I start to talk about certain songs that hold a special, strong place in my subconscience. Different tracks that bursts bundles of emotions once I hear them, songs which I dare to be obssesed with. Truly obssesed. I'd like to start with such a rare case: "Moonlight Shadow" by Mike Oldfield. I only knew it from little ID promos by Vh1 but really never heard this 1983 classic in its entirety, until a couple of days ago, when a bunch of spanish kids butchered it, and then it's when it hit me: what a fucking awesome song it is! If people would ask me about the reasons why i'm such a nut head for "Moonlight...", I probably would not have a coherent answer to that, but if i'd say something, i'd say "it's all about the melody". Maggie Reilly's vocal is a total snakecharmer, it moves you and transports you into a foreign place, a very windy one, considering Oldfield's amazing guitar licks. The lyrics: quite histrionic, inspired by the attempts to contact magic king Harry Houdini (some actually sugested that John Lennon's murder was behind the meaning). Every part in it join together to make such an extremely fantastic song, perhaps the only one i'd dare to hear except "Tubular Bells". Please, fall in love with it too.
It's obvious by now that i haven't posted in a long long time, by counted reasons: 1) lack of time, 2) lack of interest, 3) lack of interesting things to share that hasn't been shared before, or had in rare occasions. Thank god there's myspace and the weirdos that live in it, i'm alive again. Please witness exhibit A: Maximilian Skiba. Most of us would not recall his name but we probably would have danced or tripped out to some of his songs, and if you haven't, you're never too late for it. This polish guy debuted on the scene in '05 and since then he's been out and about putting glamour into the dancefloor with 3 EPS and numerous remixes. His artistry doesn't stop there, as he is quite a mastermind of aliases: The KDMS, Lucy Montenegro and King of Kong are some of his parallel projects and are just as good as the original one. In an european territory so full and rich of musical history, Max belongs to the greats of them. If you ever wondered what kind of music he'd be playing at a club or a festival, just take a peek at his heavy baggage of influences, noted on his myspace page:
Once upon a time, in a land far far away (New York) there was a place called the House of LaDosha, a place filled with police sirens, crunk juice and nothing but cunt. Yeah, cunt. A household so fierce it makes Beyonce and Lady GaGa look like christian girls trying out their mama's clothes. It's a glamourous and quite menacing environment ruled with a soft glove by Dosha Devastation (Antonio Blair) and Cunty Crawford LaDosha (Adam Radakovich). More than a group, House of LaDosha is a cultural collective where everyone's welcome, but they are not apologetic about what they do, and especially, what they sing about: pussy's galore! Their style is electro rap that would make any aspiring hip hopper run for their money and even though they are far more known in NY than elsewhere, they are getting deserved hype from all over the world thanks to their attitude-filled live shows and lyrics that go beyond the intimate. Would you dare enter this house? If you do, it's at your own risk!
For more songs of House of LaDosha, visit their Myspace
(ps. Props once again to Luchicha, who introduced me to this gang due to a few and entertaining virals made by Cunty Crawford LaDosha on his (or her) YouTube account. check them out)
I am inside a modest minority of people who had a quite happy childhood, spending most (if not all) of my time playing with He-Man/Sheena/Power Rangers/Ninja Turtles toys and Hot Wheels cars that were gone before I knew it. The TV was also my friend during those inocent and sex-free days. Most of my friends on the tube belonged to the fictional Bayside High School, where they shared normal teenage angst, fucked up and by the end of the episode, they resolved things and had a laugh while learning something useful (more like life itself). There were something for everybody: the popular boy, the hot jock, the geek, the geek-ette, the black girl and of course, Kelly Kapowski, magistrally played by Tiffani Amber-Thiessen. Whether she plays an award winning role or not, is her greatest achievement. Ever. The naive dark haired hot pot was somewhat of a kiddie's guide to sex and beyond without really trying hard for it. Kelly was the epitome of a teen beauty queen and for that, this post is for her. For her legacy and for the possibilities of the Kelly Kapowskis of the 21st century (at least, where music is concerned)
Germany is going through a bad period these days. Its government has just approved a rescue plan to save the eurozone from economic disaster, a major setback/consecuence of the actual crisis. Long gone is the era of excess and debauchery that caracterized Germany and most european countries many years ago. Fortunately, excess, mixed with elegance is very much alive thanks to Berlin's own Ellen Allien. Evidence: her brand new cd, "Dust". Being the consumated and experienced electronic diva that she is since the late 80s, Ellen pulls out all the stops on her production work into this, her 6th studio album, described by herself as a "warm inmediacy" compared to her past releases. And what a warm affair it is. Listening to "Dust" as a whole feels like an extended dream, with champagne, street lights, foam, smoke, chic-ness and excitement. The kind of thing a heavenly runway show would be made of, considering her place in fashion industry as well. I've never been a confesed fan of Minimal, Techno or IDM, but even though her music falls right in the alleys of these genres, it's pretty much one of the best music offerings i've heard so far this year (I do have to note that one of the songs, "Huibuh" sounded a bit off, too tropical for me and that just broke my eurofantasy to pieces. But we won't get into that, just enjoy and turn on to this)
Usually, my skills to spot and showcase new interesting talents never fails, but somehow I missed 17 year old Sky Ferreira along the way. But it's not that she's not that interesting, it's just that i'm ditsy, that's all (i admit it). Luckily, my trusty bestie Luchicha was just around the corner to inform me about the new girl in town and frankly, i'm impressed by both sound and vision. She sings and looks way beyond her teenage years, all of which is actually a very good thing. She has "teenage wasteland" written all over her little forehead AND she appeared in a video with the ultimate wild child, Uffie. It's the kind of street cred Ke$ha wishes she had. Sky is currently in the works on her debut with EMI with Paul Epworth, Bloodshy & Avant, Dallas Austin and many other and she's rumored to be allied with miss Britney Spears on a 90s-style electro track produced by Cisco Adler, but even though she collaborates, she has the ability to make the songs of others her own, like her delicate and slightly haunting version of Miike Snow's "Animal". Sky Ferreira is the kind of artist that is destined to hit stardom and tabloids at the same time and, like I said, that's actually a very good thing. Pass the hype and enjoy the sounds of Sky.
It's been a while since I logged on into myspace. I rarely use it, and basically, my use for it now is similar to an old record player: it's dusty but it's there, and everytime that I can, I check out to see if it works. Today it has, fortunately, as a band I haven't heard of just added me. And thank goodness it has. The name is Rescue Cat, and the info about it is pretty scarce. Maybe there lies the beauty of it all, the intrigue and mystery wrapped up in the form of a feline animal who was "found" in North London in '06, only to be surrounded by synths, drum machines and computer sounds that recall early greatness of the sorts of New Order and Hot Chip. After a few local gigs, the band caught the attention of a music mogul (whoever that is) and is currently in the works for its debut EP, coming out soon. In the meantime, here's some goodies and an eclectic mixtape courtesy of Rescue Cat.
Most of my post on this so called "new phase" of this blogs are very much inspired by old trends, old styles that are meant to stay current just as long as people holds them as their own and elevate them for new generations to enjoy. Like Disco, a movement that emerged from the deep deep underground just to be exploded into the mainstream and later spit on by rock purists who denied its power. By the late 70s, it was declared that Disco was dead but it wasn't. It lead the way for other genres that never went away, like electronic music, trance, house music and even the ultra cheesy Italo Disco.
Few people these days are holding the Disco flag way up high, but the ones who do are revered for their effort. For example, the mysterious MrPinks, a guy who's love for the genre and, most importantly, for his distaste on typical and generic compilations and his desire to give music listeners a peek on the diferent vertients within Disco, made him approach Harmless Records with the idea of Disco Discharge, where's there is room for everyone, the afficionado and the curious for strange delights with wonderous sound quality. So far, 4 CD's of this series are released (Classic Disco, Euro Disco, Disco Ladies and Gay Disco & Hi-NRG) and are highly recomended. Next month, in June, other 4 records will be in stores (Diggin' Deeper, European Connection, Disco Boogie and Pink Pounders), and I hope you will be soughting them as much as I sure will.
In honour of these great compilations, I made out a mix of upcoming Disco, Funk and Italo Disco classics that will be included on the next 4 CD's of Disco Discharge. Hear this out, grab your boogie shoes and your bad self and let's go dancing!
Ode to Disco Discharge mix setlist: Freddie James - Get Up And Boogie Gino Soccio - Remember Vivien Vee - Americano Patrick Cowley - Lift Off The Immortals - The Ultimate Warlord The Ring - Savage Lover Vin Zee - Funky Bee Bop D Train - Keep On Sharon Redd - Love How You Feel Julius Brown - Party Peter Richard - Walking In The Neon The Flirts - Danger Divine - Shake It Up
For Rock purists, Disco Music died in mid-1979 due to its horrible excess in mainstream media. For many other people, Disco never died, it just morphed into innovative genres that have stood the test of time. Some of those genres introduced electronic beats into the forefront, and there's where Lime comes in. This band was the brainchild of Denis and Denyse LePage. There is very little information about the husband and wife duo other than the fact that both released a couple of records before being signed by Unidisc Records in 1980 and they were forced to be replaced in live performances by two younger and more attractive singers. A year later, in 1981, their debut single and album "Your Love" came out and became an instant dance classic. Two other records later, they juggled between Disco, Dance, House, Hi-NRG and electronic music, making excelent tunes before fading from popularity in the late 80s. Though Denis LePage got divorced and still made albums under the name Lime (the latest was 2002's Love Fury), they are most regarded as one of the best and most underrated pop groups of the early eighties.
I've seen strange things in my life, but nothing like my latest craze, or better said, girl-crush: Nancy Sinatra. Not Marilyn Monroe, not Brigitte Bardot, Nancy Sinatra. I've never been a fan of Ol' Blue Eyes' daughter, yet I slightly like her 1966 rendition to a lady's best friend besides diamonds, "These Boots are Made for Walking" (before being wrecked and butchered by Jessica Simpson, who added her Daisy Duke's into the song slaugther). But people rarely know, or doesn't even care, about the fact that Nancy has a better, groovier and deeper repertoir than "Boots". As a matter of fact, the first time I heard Nancy was with "Sugar Town", a lovely but kinda misleading song about an utiopian sweety place that only she had knowledge of. A little while after that, she signed with US tv network NBC to do what turned out to be a groundbreaking special, "Movin' with Nancy". What was so revolutionary about a TV special featuring the ultimate go-go chick? It was the first time that the usual stage-bound production was replaced by full outdoor locations. On top of that, there were no introductions or a whole lot of dialog, just music being showcased one song after the other, presenting itself as a dream-like fantasy. The result were very intriguing proto-music videos, prior to the birth of MTV, with the very 1967 soundtrack to go along with it. Highlights are the opener "I Gotta get out of This Town", "See the Little Children" and the spooky "Some Velvet Morning" with Lee Hazlewood (later covered by Primal Scream and Kate Moss)
